Graceland West Community Association
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, June 7, from 9:35 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
Thursday, June 19 | Time: 6–7:30 PM | Location: Warner Park & Gardens (1444 W Warner)
Join the Graceland West Community Association for an evening of updates, conversation, environmental inspiration, and a delicious summer solstice potluck. Let’s come together to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and look ahead to what’s next.
Annual Environmental Program & ECO Updates
We’ll hear from:
Garden Walk Planning
Calling all gardeners! Our 43rd Annual Garden Walk is coming up on Sunday, July 27. Want to help organize it, show your garden or just be part of the fun? Come learn more and sign up!
Council Election
Three of your neighbors—Bruce, Colin, and Janice—are running to serve on the GWCA Council. Interested in joining too? Let us know! (Eligible voting members must reside in the neighborhood and be current on dues.)
Community Thanks & Neighborhood Projects
Bring a dish to share, your own beverage + container, and reusable utensils. The pot luck will begin as soon as the meeting concludes. We’d love help setting up tables at 5:25 PM and putting them away at 7:30 PM. Volunteers are also needed to help run the potluck!
Reach out to info@gracelandwest.org to:
Let’s keep Graceland West beautiful, green and connected.
We can’t wait to see you on June 19 at Warner Park!
We’re kicking off summer with a fun and educational event for kids this Sunday at 10:30 AM at Warner Park and Gardens — the Kids Pollinator Project!
Little gardeners will learn about the important role pollinators play in our environment and get hands-on planting pollinator-friendly flowers in the community garden. It’s a great way to dig in the dirt, learn something new, and help make our neighborhood greener and more beautiful.
Come ready to plant, play, and learn. Bring a hand shovel and gloves. If not, don’t worry, just bring your enthusiasm (and maybe a sun hat)!
When: Sunday June 1 at 10:30 AM
Where: Warner Park and Gardens
Who: All kids and families welcome!
We hope to see you there!
Celebrate Earth Week with Us – Saturday, April 26!
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to dust off the pedals and join your neighbors for a morning of community and cycling. GWCA, in partnership with Lake View High School, Pedalheads, The Recyclery and Quantum LEEP Academy, invites you to our Celebration of Cycling on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Lake View High School’s parking lot (4015 N Ashland Ave).
Event Schedule:
Why Attend?
This event is a fantastic way to engage with the community, promote sustainable transportation, and enjoy a fun-filled morning with activities for all ages. Whether you’re looking to donate a bike, help your child gain confidence on two wheels, or simply enjoy a leisurely ride through the neighborhood, there’s something for everyone.
Get Involved:
If you’re interested in assisting with setup, guiding the parade, or spreading the word, please reach out to us.
Stay Connected:
For more details and updates, visit our event page.
Let’s celebrate cycling, community, and Earth Week. See you there!
GWCA is hosting a Celebration of Cycling from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 26 at Lake View High School, and we’d love your help! The event will feature a bike donation + swap, bike decorating, an obstacle course for kids, and a bike parade through the neighborhood—all aimed at dusting off the pedals and showcasing our bike infrastructure.
We’re looking for volunteers at the event. If you can help, reach out to info@gracelandwest.org. Even a little help goes a long way in making it a success!
Details & flyer here:
https://gracelandwest.org/calendar/celebration-of-cycling-bike-donation-swap-obstacle-course-bike-parade/
If you live in Graceland West, you should have received your 2025 LV2 sticker and guest pass in the mail. Remove last year’s sticker and place the new sticker on the passenger side of your windshield as soon as possible. For more information about LV2, please see the Alderman’s helpful Parking page.
Important Reminder: As of 2023, the LV2 zone expanded to include parking restrictions for all Cubs home games and Wrigley Field concerts. Through 2022 it did not apply to day game dates. This means that when there is a day game, don’t forget to have guests display your guest pass after the game, between 5 and 10 PM.
Our first 47th Ward Street Sweeping is scheduled for April 17 and 18. The 47th Ward section is Montrose to Irving from Ashland to the west side of Southport. This part of the neighborhood receives four street sweepings a year.
The last sweeping is well before the final leaves will fall which is why we’ll be having our 13th annual volunteer street leaf cleanup in November. More Street Sweeping info can be found here.
Our first 46th Ward Street Sweeping is scheduled for April 9th and 10th. The 46th Ward section includes Warner to Irving from the east side of Southport to Clark. This part of the neighborhood receives eight street sweepings.
For the 46th Ward you can find more Street Sweeping information on here.
On Tuesday April 8th and Thursday April 10th, our students will be engaged in high-stakes testing from roughly 8am until 1pm. While we’re generally glad to have children play in our playground during school hours, during those two time periods, we’d really appreciate quiet so that students can focus on their ACT and Pre-ACT testing.
We will be posting signs on the playground asking community members not to use the space during those two times.
Paul J. Karafiol, Ed.D.
Principal
Lake View High School
Heavy rains can leave behind standing water and puddles, creating inconvenience and potential hazards in our neighborhood. Fortunately, bioswales help mitigate these issues by capturing and filtering stormwater, reducing runoff, and preventing flooding. Here in Graceland West, we are fortunate to have several bioswales that play a crucial role in managing water flow and keeping our streets drier during rain events.
Bioswales function by using vegetation and soil to slow down and absorb rainwater, filtering out pollutants before the water reaches the sewer system or natural waterways. These green infrastructure elements are designed with a gentle slope and deep-rooted plants that help capture excess rainwater, reducing strain on storm drains and improving overall water quality.
However, bioswales don’t maintain themselves! These natural drainage solutions require ongoing care to remain effective, and that’s where community support comes in. Recently, a dedicated group of volunteers—Colin, Teddi, Linda, and Kim—came together to revitalize the bioswale at 4200 N Clark St (Clark and Berteau). Their efforts included clearing debris, which helps maintain proper water flow and prevents blockages, refreshing plant life, and ensuring the bioswale remains a functional and attractive part of our neighborhood.
The native plants are already sprouting and birds are finding earthworms there.
If you’d like to get involved in maintaining our bioswales, keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities and review our Stormwater Solutions page! Small efforts from community members help keep our neighborhood beautiful and resilient.
We’re excited to support Truman College—where our former GWCA council member, Joanne Yonan, now works—through two meaningful initiatives this spring.
Business Attire Clothing Drive (March 22–31)
Joanne is collecting gently used business attire for Truman College students to wear to job interviews. If you have professional clothing you’re no longer using, this is a great way to give it a second life while helping students take a big step toward their careers. Students will present their Truman IDs to select clothing.
To donate, please contact Joanne Yonan directly at jsyonan@gmail.com to arrange drop-off.
Blood Drive at Truman College (April 23)
GWCA has partnered on blood drives before, and we’re proud to support this upcoming one at Truman College. It’s a simple way to make a life-saving difference in our community.
Location:
Harry S Truman College
1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Let’s show our Graceland West spirit and support Joanne and the students of Truman College!
Join Us TONIGHT, March 13th for the GWCA Quarterly Meeting
We’re excited to invite all Graceland West neighbors to our GWCA Quarterly Meeting. Below is the full agenda for the evening:
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM Location: Quantum LEEP Academy, 1447 W Montrose Ave
Agenda:
We encourage all residents, whether in the 46th or 47th Ward, to attend this meeting. Your participation is vital in shaping the future of Graceland West. Come, engage, and be a part of the conversation that makes our community thrive.
We look forward to seeing you there!
